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According to Moneyweb, more than one in three South Africans are working second jobs to make ends meet. Many of these people do something vastly different from their day jobs to supplement their income and are called "slashers" due to the slash between their job titles.
Working two jobs seems to be becoming a trend in recent years with many millennials working extra jobs to supplement their income or to help pay off student debts, etc.
While it certainly isn't easy, it can really help you attain financial stability and teach you about work ethic. In this piece for HelloGiggles, Carly Sletten talks about what it was like to work multiple jobs at once and what she learnt from the experience.
But does that mean you should be considering a second job? Maybe. There are a lot of great extra income opportunities out there and some of them even pay better than your current gig!
READ MORE: Thinking of working abroad? Take these 4 steps to protect yourself from being scammed
So the people over at Adzuna compiled a list of some of the top-paying side jobs out there flexible enough to not interfere with your current nine-to-five and still allow you to have a bit of a social life. Some of these jobs have odd working hours, but they also seem to be able to help you make your own hours at your second job so you can fit it into your life seamlessly.
The salaries listed below are based on average salaries compiled by Adzuna (correct as of June 2018 for part-time work in South Africa).
Become a driver
Average salary: R236, 843 per year
Requirements: Although these may differ from one company to the next, general requirements include:
• Your own car
• A valid driver’s license
• A private hire vehicle licence (which can be obtained through a registered body such as Uber)
• Suitable car insurance
• A smartphone
Main benefit: Super flexible working hours
Thanks to companies like Uber, it’s easier than ever to become a driver in your spare time. You’ll have opportunities to earn extra income on weekends, around sporting events, and during the holidays due to surge pricing. Yes, these companies do take a percentage service fee from whatever you earn, and you’ll have to keep up with the maintenance schedule of your car on your own account, but it’s a great way to make some extra cash every month.
READ MORE: 8 things you need to know if you want to drive for Uber
Deliver parcels and food orders
Average salary: R135, 672 per year
Requirements:
• Valid driver’s licence
• A clean criminal record
• Be at least 25 years old (most companies require this)
Main benefit: Start immediately without having to use your own vehicle
Driving packages rather than people can seem more appealing to a lot of folks, and if that’s your cup of tea, working for a courier company or international companies like Amazon or even Mr D might be your ticket to some extra cash. Being a delivery driver also comes with benefits such as petrol money, discounted offers, and of course the ability to work your own hours. In most cases, these positions don’t require drivers to use their own vehicles, which is a score as far as maintenance on your car goes.
Start a cleaning business
Average salary: R207, 000 per year
Requirements: no set requirements
Main benefit: easy to secure repeat business
You can earn up to R150 per hour as a domestic cleaner who specialises in offices, homes, and industrial areas. One of the great perks of being a cleaner is that you can easily work according to your free time and securing repeat business is often a breeze You can choose to clean on a part-time basis or advertise your services as a freelance solution. You can also decide on whether or not you’d like to get paid per month or per hour, depending on your clientele and your setup.
Become a house sitter
Average salary: R30, 000 per year
Requirements: depends on the family
Main benefit: minimal effort
House sitting is a low-key job that requires minimal amounts of effort. All you need to do is to keep an eye on a house when the family that occupies it can’t. Some of the biggest tasks involved in these types of jobs are watering the plants and collecting the mail. It’s a great low-impact job for individuals that have tight schedules and don’t necessarily have the freedom to work extra jobs during the regular nine-to-five drill.
READ MORE: Young women under 25 who are making serious career moves in Africa
Offer your services as a babysitter
Average salary: R34, 545 per year
Requirements: this depends on the family, but general requirements include:
• Experience working with kids
• Clean criminal record
• A basic first aid certificate
• Driver’s license (most families require this)
Main benefit: repeat business and the opportunity to build good relationships
Babysitting might be a great way for you to make some extra cash. A lot of families use the same babysitter over and over again, so if you want to get into a business with good prospects for repeat business, this is an ideal fit. Take things up a notch and consider the idea of becoming an au pair and you could be looking at great added benefits like free accommodation too.
Tutor your way to extra cash
Average salary: R183, 878 per year
Requirements:
• Strong knowledge in the subjects you offer assistance in, preferably supported by a BA degree
• Great teaching style and communication skills
• Good organisational skills
Main benefit: great hourly rate
If you’re looking for one of the best paying extra jobs (by hourly rate), then tutoring is definitely it! You’ll have the opportunity of earning up to R800 per hour, given that you have the right qualifications and a good rep. To take on a job in tutoring, you’ll need amazing organisational skills. You’ll also need to have the ability to build trust and rapport with students (and their parents), and of course, you’ll need to stay up to date with the national curriculum. Although tutoring is generally associated with academic subjects, you can also teach skills such as computer programming. With the demand for tutors increasing, you could easily make some extra cash if you have a wealth of wisdom to offer and a way to teach others.
READ MORE: Money advice for millennials who are struggling to save while paying off loans
Mystery shop your way to wealth
Average salary: R145, 675 per year
Requirements:
• The ability to visit certain shops within a certain period of time
• Great memory and the ability to remember details of all stores visited
Main benefit: free gifts and flexibility
If you’re not ready to quit your 9-5 and you’re keen on scoring some freebies while doing your regular shopping rounds, why not consider the idea of becoming a mystery shopper? The job doesn’t pay as much as most other options here, and it can be miles away from the flashy ideas you might have dreamt about, but the jobs are quick and be done as part as your regular routine. In general, mystery shopping gigs vary, but most shops use mystery shoppers, which means you’ll have the opportunity of scoring freebies ranging from luxury goods to fast food meal vouchers as added perks!
READ MORE: How to use social media to land your dream job
Take and sell pictures
Average salary: R165, 712 per year
Requirements:
• Know how to operate a DSLR camera
• Understand Photoshop
• Understand basic lighting for photography
• Preferably have your own photography portfolio
Main benefit: you have the ability to monetise your hobby
Instead of allowing your DSLR camera just to sit there, gathering dust, you can start using it to make some great extra cash. Making money through photography is a very real deal, and you have quite a few options here. Perhaps you choose to work with various clients as a freelance photographer. Or maybe the idea of signing a fixed contract with one employer sounds more appealing to you. You could even consider selling your photos online as stock images or as products. Don’t let the idea of photography being strictly portrait or wedding photos put a cap on your dreams. Photography has expanded so much over the last few years, and the demand for real estate, product, and commercial headshot photography is more in demand than ever before!
Offer handyman services
Average salary: R256, 900 per year
Requirements:
• Diverse range of DIY skills
Main benefit: satisfying work that can be done in your free time
Companies, schools, manufacturers, and even hospitals all use handyman services. Becoming a handyman in your spare time is a great way to add some more punch to your income. Generally speaking, the job entails minor fixing of maintenance issues that don’t really require the services of specialised contractors. All you’ll need to do this job is a variety of DIY skills such as carpentry, plumbing, electrics, and decorating. The good news about handyman jobs is that they can almost always work around a nine-to-five schedule since most businesses seek to minimise disruptions during working hours.
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